Journey Into Dyslexia

It’s estimated that 1 in 10 people in the United States have dyslexia. So, what’s it like to have dyslexia? And, how can students with dyslexia successfully learn?

Dyslexia is a learning disability that is neurologically based—it results from differences in how the brain processes information. It is not a mental disorder or related to intelligence. It straddles all levels of education and economic class. While people with dyslexia see words differently, they also see things that others miss.

In the HBO film, “Journey Into Dyslexia,” award-winning filmmakers Alan and Susan Raymond visit schools throughout the U.S. that have programs specifically designed for different ways of learning. Students—elementary through college—teachers, researchers, and successful adults candidly speak about their school experiences, why different is good, and how they have learned to navigate the world.

Check out the “Journey into Dyslexia” website to view the trailer and to explore its many resources on dyslexia, including facts, biographies of notable adults with dyslexia, and educational resources. See if your library has the film available for check-out, or you may purchase the film online.

Here are other excellent websites that advocate positive, forward-thinking insights and actions on dyslexia:

Dyslexia Foundation of New ZealandLike the U.S., nearly 1 in 10 New Zealanders have dyslexia. The foundation offers resources to recognize and understand dyslexia, and take action with solutions and assessments.

Children of the CodeLook beyond this website’s colorful disarray and you'll find an abundance of videos and interviews with neuroscientists and others on “the code,” and the challenge of learning to read it.

Dyslexic AdvantageDyslexic Advantage is a gathering place for people with or interested in dyslexia. Established by two neurolearning specialists, it houses stories, podcasts, forums, and articles on dyslexia, testing, teaching methods, and more.